Lena Dunham shares her disappointment in not being gay

Jaclyn is an Idaho native who currently lives in Milwaukee. Having worked in radio, TV and as a newspaper reporter, she is an avid pop culture and news junkie. She also has a passion for photography and cooking (but is still learning to ...

An early disappointment

Lena Dunham always shows exactly who she is. But if it were up to her, she would be much different.

Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com

Lena Dunham is known for being proud of who she is, so it may come as a surprise that she learned something very disappointing about herself when she was younger. The Girls star was accepting an award for working with LGBTQ youth this week when she talked about her childhood and growing up in a tolerant environment.

Identifying with those around her left her wanting for even more, and she revealed that, "It was actually a huge disappointment for me, when I came of age and realized I was sexually attracted to men. So when my sister came out, I thought, 'Thank God, someone in this family can truly represent my passions and beliefs.'"

Dunham explained that she and her family grew up in a very open community where no one ever felt ashamed of who they were.

"We were raised in an environment — the art world of downtown Manhattan — where no one hid their sexual orientation," she explained. "I was always very jealous of any child who had two dads."

Dunham also revealed she always felt connected with the community while she was growing up.

"I have always felt a strong emotional connection to members of the LGBTQ community," Dunham told a group at the Point Foundation's New York Honors Gala on Monday, according to Vanity Fair. "My sister Grace coming out as a gay woman at age 17 was a huge turning point for me in my understanding of the issues facing LGBTQ people."